Purpose

To strengthen public safety communications and data sharing by creating a dedicated funding and governance framework. The bill aims to: - establish a Public Safety Radio Account to fund statewide radio and data network needs, - set fees for accessing the criminal justice data communications network (CJDCN), - expand and regulate how the CJDCN can be used by criminal justice and certain noncriminal justice agencies, - require security, background checks, and compliance requirements for agencies that access or connect to the network, - create a grant program to support interoperable radio equipment for the ARMER system, and - provide annual reporting to the Legislature on fund activity and grants.

Main provisions and what the bill seeks to accomplish

• Authorized uses of the criminal justice data communications network (CJDCN):
  • Used exclusively by criminal justice agencies for their duties.
  • Used by agencies involved in federal security clearances or duties related to national security.
  • Used by other agencies required by law to conduct checks against state databases before issuing licenses or benefits.
  • Used by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement.
  • Used by the public defender, county attorney, or attorney general for civil commitment petitions and related proceedings.
  • Used by agencies or courts for access to data related to case dispositions as allowed by law.
  • Used by a coroner or medical examiner to identify deceased persons.
• Monthly network access charge and fee structure:
  • Establishes a standard monthly charge of $100 per terminal computer or other equipment addressable by the CJDCN.
  • A portion of the charge (specifically $50 per month) is deposited into the Public Safety Radio Account (a new special revenue fund).
  • The bill references a historical or transitional connect fee schedule (e.g., $40 per month in 1984 and $50 per month thereafter), but the ongoing structure centers on the $100 monthly charge with a designated deposit to the Public Safety Radio Account.
  • The commissioner may arrange secure connections to federal or state information systems as needed for authorized purposes.
• Access, security, and background checks:
  • Before establishing secure connections, non-judicial agencies must meet security requirements, agree to comply with data-access policies and data classification laws, and conduct fingerprint-based state and national background checks on employees and contractors as required by the FBI.
  • Judicial branch data access is governed by applicable policies, data classification laws, and the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch.
  • Agencies must pay required fees for background checks and security compliance.
  • The process includes FBI and BCA involvement in exchanging and returning criminal history results to determine eligibility for access to the secure network.
• Public Safety Radio Account and grant program:
  • Creates the Public Safety Radio Account in the Special Revenue Fund.
  • Funds grants to local governments, federally recognized Tribal entities, and state agencies participating in the ARMER system.
  • Grants cover purchasing or upgrading interoperable radios and related equipment; nonstate agency grants require at least a 5% match from nonstate funds.
  • The grant program is administered by the Director of the Emergency Communication Networks Division in consultation with the Statewide Emergency Communications Board.
  • Up to 2% of the appropriation may be used for grant administration.
• Reporting and oversight:
  • By January 15, 2027 and annually thereafter, the Commissioner must report to legislative leaders on deposits to the Public Safety Radio Account and on grants awarded.

Significant changes to existing law

• Creates a dedicated funding mechanism (Public Safety Radio Account) within the Special Revenue Fund to support statewide public safety radio and interoperable communications (ARMER system) through grants and related activities.
• Expands the authorized uses of the CJDCN to include more national security-related activities and certain data access for civil processes, while tightening access controls and security requirements for noncriminal justice agencies and those connected to the network.
• Adds mandatory fingerprint-based background checks for employees and contractors of agencies accessing CJDCN data, leveraging FBI and BCA processes.
• Establishes a structured fee system for CJDCN access that partially funds the Public Safety Radio Account and ARMER-related grants.
• Introduces a formal reporting requirement to the Legislature on fund deposits and grant activity.

How the bill uses terminology and related concepts

• Key terms from the bill text include: criminal justice data communications network (CJDCN), public safety radio account, ARMER (Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response), data access policies, security requirements, fingerprint-based background checks, FBI, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Department of Public Safety Emergency Communication Networks Division, special revenue fund, and grants for interoperable radio equipment.
• Related concepts include: secure connections to federal/state information systems, data classification laws, Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, and federal/state authorization for data sharing.

Relevant Terms - criminal justice data communications network - Public Safety Radio Account - Special Revenue Fund - ARMER (Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response) - monthly network access charge - connect fee - local government grants - Tribal entities - state agency grants - interoperable radios - grant matching requirement (5%) - Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - fingerprint-based background checks - data access policies and data classification - secure connections / CJIS access - emergency communications governance (Emergency Communication Networks Division, Statewide Emergency Communications Board) - reporting to Legislature